Calming Winds (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Calming Winds is a 17-minute British comedy-drama about Rich, a smoker whose desperate attempt to quit leads to an unusual internet solution. With his relationship at risk, the short explores addiction, acceptance and the consequences of getting exactly what you ask for, through a surreal premise.

Calming Winds is a 2026 British short film written and directed by Alfie Bristow. The comedy-drama follows Rich, a smoker under pressure to quit before his partner, Char, decides to leave him.

At just 17 minutes, the film builds its premise around an unusual intervention discovered online: Rich finds a pop-up advertisement promising to remove his ability to create a flame. The result places a personal struggle inside a distinctly surreal setup.

Calming Winds movie details

Story without spoilers

Rich is struggling with a smoking addiction, and the threat of losing Char gives him a clear reason to seek help. While searching online for a way to stop smoking, he encounters a peculiar pop-up advertisement offering an unconventional solution.

The offer appears designed to grant Rich his wish by taking away his ability to create a flame. From there, Calming Winds centers on the consequences of that strange bargain and Rich’s attempt to deal with the situation. The premise connects everyday dependency with an imaginative comic complication while keeping the relationship at the story’s center.

What to expect

The supplied genre labels point to a blend of comedy and drama rather than a straightforward issue-focused short. Its premise also suggests a surreal tone, with ordinary concerns about smoking and a relationship contrasted against an impossible-sounding change to Rich’s abilities.

The film’s 17-minute runtime indicates a compact narrative built around one central problem. The tagline, “Acceptance doesn't mean hopelessness,” provides an additional framing idea, while the listed keywords—“wind,” “surreal,” “euphoric,” “ciggie,” and “gust”—reinforce the film’s unusual atmosphere without revealing its plot beyond the stated premise.

Cast and creative team

Alfie Bristow writes and directs Calming Winds and is also credited as Rich’s hands. Zackary Sheridan plays Rich, with Lilly-Rae Earls as Char and Leon Dykes-Meredith as Tony.

• Zackary Sheridan as Rich
• Lilly-Rae Earls as Char
• Leon Dykes-Meredith as Tony
• Alfie Bristow as Rich's hands

Release and production context

Calming Winds is a United Kingdom production from Sample Text Productions. It is in English, has a runtime of 17 minutes, and is listed as released on October 7, 2026. The film is categorized as Comedy and Drama.

Production companies: Sample Text Productions

Calming Winds official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its short format and deliberately unusual premise, Calming Winds frames smoking addiction and relationship pressure through a surreal comic device. The available details present it as a concise English-language drama about trying to change, confronting unexpected consequences and finding a form of acceptance without surrendering hope.

Film data:
TMDB